Recap: Houston vs. Tampa Bay

Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Dominguez's three-run double helped lead the Houston Astros to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the middle contest of a three-game set on Saturday.

Marwin Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Dexter Fowler drove in two runs for the Astros, who have won five of their last seven.

Jarred Cosart (6-5) surrendered just three runs on nine hits across seven innings with two strikeouts to earn the win.

"I was throwing a lot of offspeed pitches," said Cosart. "The scouting report said they were an aggressive team."

Kevin Kiermaier had two doubles and crossed the plate twice for the Rays, who had their two-game win streak snapped. Evan Longoria supplied three RBI in defeat.

Rays starter Chris Archer (3-4) tossed his shortest outing of the season. He was pulled after three-plus innings for giving up six runs -- one earned -- on three hits and three walks in defeat.

"I didn't execute pitches," said Archer. "I wasn't as sharp as I wanted to be. It's a learning experience. I could have done much better."

The Rays started the scoring in the first. Kiermaier got aboard with a one-out double and raced home on Longoria's base hit that George Springer bobbled in right field, giving Tampa Bay the early lead.

Gonzalez stroked a double to the gap in right with one out in the third. He moved up to third on a wild pitch and came home two batters later after Fowler reached on a fielding error by Archer at first.

Archer then hit Springer with a pitch and walked Jon Singleton to load the bases. Jason Castro took a walk to usher in a run and Dominguez's double off the wall in center cleared the bases for a 5-1 Houston lead.

The Astros made it a 7-1 game in the fourth. Archer was replaced by Cesar Ramos after allowing a leadoff walk to Alex Presley. Gonzalez singled before Fowler's double to deep center drove in both runners.

Longoria cut the deficit down to 7-3 in the fifth after crushing a curveball over the wall in left to score Kiermaier.

Game Notes

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve missed his second straight game with a
bruised right hand ... Cosart has struck out 18 batters while walking just
four in his last three starts ... Houston is now 2-9 in their last 11 home
games against Tampa Bay.

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